Direct and Indirect Costs Related to Physical Activity Levels in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus in Spain: A Cross-Sectional Study

Sarria-Santamera A. Alexeyeva Z. Chan M.Y. Ortega M.A. Asunsolo-Del-barco A. Navarro-García C.
April 2022 MDPI

Healthcare (Switzerland)
2022 #10 Issue 4

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a global public health concern. DM is importantly linked to the modern lifestyle. Lifestyle-based interventions currently represent a critical preventive and therapeutic approach for patients with DM. Increasing physical activity has proven multiple benefits to prevent this condition; however, there is still room for further progress in this field, especially in terms of the effect of exercise in patients with already established DM. This study intends to examine the economic relationship between physical activity and direct/indirect costs in patients with DM. We analyze a national representative sample (n = 1496) of the general population of Spain, using available data from the National Health Survey of 2017 (NHS 2017). Our results show that 63.7% of the sample engaged in some degree of physical activity, being more frequent in men (67.5%), younger individuals (80.0%), and those with higher educational levels (69.7%). Conversely, lower levels of physical activity were associated with female sex, older subjects, and various comorbidities. Our study estimates that 2151 € per (51% in direct costs) patient may be saved if a minimum level of physical activity is implemented, primarily, due to a decrease in indirect costs (absenteeism and presenteeism). This study shows that physical activity will bring notable savings in terms of direct and indirect costs in patients with DM, particularly in some vulnerable groups.

diabetes mellitus (DM) , healthcare costs , physical activity , sedentary lifestyle

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Department of Medicine, Nazarbayev University School of Medicine, Nur-Sultan, 010000, Kazakhstan
Department of Medicine and Medical Specialities, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Alcalá, Alcala de Henares, 28801, Spain
Ramón y Cajal Institute of Sanitary Research (IRYCIS), Madrid, 28034, Spain
Department of Surgery, Medical and Social Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Alcalá, Alcala de Henares, 28801, Spain
Faculty of Health and Sports Sciences, Universidad Alfonso X, Madrid, Villanueva de la Cañada, 28691, Spain

Department of Medicine
Department of Medicine and Medical Specialities
Ramón y Cajal Institute of Sanitary Research (IRYCIS)
Department of Surgery
Faculty of Health and Sports Sciences

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